Improvement in hermetically sealing preserve-cans



c. BRANWHITE;

Fruit Can.

No. 14,439. Patented Mar. 18. 1856.

W'IIIIIIIIIIIIIn v AM. PHDTD-LITHD.CO. N.Y.[OSBDRNE'S PRPCES S.)

UNITED I STATES CHARLES BRANVVHITE,

ATENT QFFICE.

OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

' Specification forming part ofLetters Patent No. H 4, 1 39, dated March18 1856.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES BRANWHITE, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Closing CansHermetically; and I do declare that the following is a full and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This improvement relates to the closing of canisters hermetically, (forpreserving fruits, 85c. and its nature consists in confining the top ofthe can intermediate between bearingsurfaces, and to the peculiar formgiven to the bearing-surfaces of the cap on the upper side and flange onthe under side of the top of the can.

Figures 1 and 2 are views in section, differing only in the positionoccupied by the screwthreads, the former being upon the internal part ofthe collar a,while thelatter is external, the cap corresponding thereto.

The collar a is made to fit the aperture in the top of the can andproject above a sufficient distilcit hrecei e w, a suitable" screw beingformed upon each. The under part of the collar has a rim or flangeprojecting outward therefrom, which takes a bearing upon the under sideof the tin cover, and the latter is confined and held under pressurebetween this rim and the cap or nut aforesaid.

That part of the flange, in contact with the tin is made disfigpnbevewd,so that its outer edge only shall take bearing, for reasons hereinafterexplained.

The cap I), in addition to the screw before mentioned, has a rimprojecting outward and downward therefrom, that takes a bearing upon thecenter of the rubber gasket 0. The lower margin of this rim is narrow orbrought nearly to an edge to secure considerable indentation in thegasket and consequent closing of the rubber upon its sides. This expandsthe rubber inwardly as well as outwardly, and insures thereby a moreperfect joint than where the whole surface is covered. The rubber beingplaced outside of the screw gives the still fur ther advantage ofprotecting the contents of the can from injury by contact therewith. Theflange of the collar a is greater in diame ter than the lower margin ofthe cap as this is concave, and the bearing of the cap within itsextreme outer diameter, it follows that when the cap is screwed down theinner margin of the tin is pressed downward, and, consequently, anywarps and unevenness of the tin surface are removed, thereby securing tothe outer portion of the rim a much more per fect bearing than if itssurface were level. The collar a is placed by the maker of the canwithin the top E before the different parts are soldered together, andisheld from falling inward by solder at one or two points of its rim. Thearrangements above described are impor tant, as in this form the canbecomes more simple, durable, and cheaper than in cases where a similarcollar is soldered upon the top, as is commonly done. It is also'lessliable to injury by handling, secures a reliable tightness and perfectexclusion of the air, and can be understood and used by persons generally withlittle instruction and with the certainty that its contentswill be well preserved. Another advantage from placing the rim of thecollar A within the can in the manner described is derived from the factthat when a vacuum is formed within the top is depressed inward, andwhere a collar is soldered upon the can, as before mentioned, it occursthat the strain upon the joint in such cases causes it to part and leak.such difficulty can exist, as the top can yield sufficiently without inthe slightest degree af-. fecting the joint injuriously.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim therein as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is I l. Oonfining the top of the canE between V bearing-surfaces by means of the collar a and screw 0, asdescribed, thereby dispensing with solder or cements in forming a joint.

2. The peculiar form given to the internal and external bearing-surfacesof this attach- 1n ent for closing a can when formed, combined, and usedas set forth.

CHARLES BRANVHITE.

Vitncsses:

H. O. BANKS, J AMES DONAHUE.

XVit-h this method no=

